JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State men's cross country will advance to the NCAA National Championships after placing first at the NCAA Central Regional meet in Joplin, Mo. at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course hosted by Missouri Southern. 
 
The Bearcat men tallied 72 points to claim first and earned one of three automatic team berths from the Central Region for the 2025 NCAA Div. II Cross Country Championships set for Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wis.
 
Bearcat Men's 10K
In the men's 10K run, the Bearcats secured first, with Northwest having four runners finish within the top 25. Senior Aziz Mohammed set a new personal record at 29:53.48, leading the team with a first-place finish. It ranks as the second-best 10K time in school history. Senior Drew Atkins also set a new personal record at 30:04.49, finished second in the race and for the Bearcats. Atkins's time is the fourth-best in school history. Rounding out the top five for the 'Cats were Maxime Touron (31:20.62), Grayson Tapp (31:22.31), and Barnabe Gabillet (31:35.53), finishing 19th, 20th, and 29th. Touron, Tapp, and Gabillet all set new-personal bests.
 
Northwest Men 10 K Final Times - NCAA Central Regional Championships
1. Aziz Mohammed — 29:53.48
2. Drew Atkins — 30:04.49
19. Maxime Touron — 31:20.62
20. Grayson Tapp — 31:22.31
29. Barnabe Gabillet — 31:35.53
45. John Langill — 32:08.73
70. Tyler Blay — 32:44.59
 
NCAA Central Regional Championships Team Scores (Men)
1. Northwest Missouri State (72) 
2. Washburn (104) 
3. East Central (116) 
4. Pittsburg State (118) 
5. Augustana (S.D.) (127) 
6. Nebraska–Kearney (166) 
7. Oklahoma Baptist (193) 
8. Missouri Southern (206) 
9. Harding (242) 
10. Fort Hays State (354) 
11. Rogers State (358) 
12. MSU–Moorhead (392) 
13. Central Missouri (401) 
14. Missouri Western (401) 
15. Minnesota State (441) 
16. Ouachita Baptist (446) 
17. Winona State (475) 
18. Minnesota–Crookston (504) 
19. U–Mary (521) 
20. Sioux Falls (544) 
21. Northwestern Oklahoma (555) 
22. Concordia–St. Paul (628) 
23. Emporia State (671) 
24. Newman (682) 
25. Minnesota–Duluth (705) 
26. Wayne State (Neb.) (714) 
27. Southern Arkansas (725) 
28. Northern State (835) 
29. UA–Fort Smith (872) 
30. Minot State (881) 
 
10,000 Meters – Northwest Men's Cross Country Record Book
1. Jhordan Ccope - Joplin, Mo. - 29:38.1 - 2019
2. Aziz Mohammed - Joplin, Mo. - 29:53.48 - 2025
3. Grant Bradley - Sacramento, Calif. - 30:04.3 - 2024
4. Drew Atkins - Joplin, Mo. - 30:04.49 - 2025
5. Karim Achengli - Joplin, Mo. - 30:04.6 - 2018
6. Jacob Nkamasiai - Joplin, Mo. - 30:04.87
7. Nate Mueller - Sacramento, Calif. - 30:13.1 - 2024
8. Augostine Lisoreng - Joplin, Mo. - 30:25.9 - 2019
9. Fedrick Kipyego - Joplin, MO. - 30:31.98 - 2021
10. Jake Norris - Joplin, Mo. - 30:33.89 - 2022
11. Ryan Darling - Joplin, Mo. - 30:54.6 - 2012
12. Vernon Darling - Maryville, Mo. - 30:55:00 - 1978
13. Brayden Clews-Proctor - Joplin, Mo. - 30:56 - 2016
14. Jim Ryan - Kenosha, Wisc. - 31:03:00 - 1983
15. Austin Goetsche - Joplin, Mo. - 31:05.26 - 2022